Coronation Street, Bill Roache receive Guinness World Records

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 5d

Coronation Street and Bill Roache are presented with Guinness World Records certificates as the soap's landmark 60th birthday approaches.

Coronation Street and Bill Roache have received special Guinness World Records certificates ahead of the soap's historic 60th anniversary next month.

The ITV soap marks 60 years on the air on December 9, with Roache - aka Ken Barlow - having been a firm fixture of the show since its first ever episode.

Roache's achievement makes him the longest-serving TV soap star in the world, while Corrie has cemented its position as the longest-running TV soap opera in the world.

"I would like to thank Guinness World Records for this new award," said Roache, 88. "I have been very fortunate to have been in this wonderful programme, Coronation Street, which has carried me into this world record and a lifetime of wonderful memories."

Iain MacLeod, series producer of Corrie, added: "When Coronation Street, Tony Warren's groundbreaking, visionary project, launched in 1960, a columnist in a national newspaper predicted it wouldn't last more than three weeks.

"Sixty years later, I can safely say the many hundreds of people that have worked tirelessly and dedicatedly on the show have proved that prediction staggeringly wrong.

"It is an incredible achievement, a testament to Tony's instincts as a dramatist and proof that the characters and narrative universe he designed are still as relevant today as they were then.

"What better evidence of this could there be than Ken Barlow, played by the record-breaking William Roache, who was in episode one, had a starring role in episode 10,000 earlier this year, and will be at the centre of on-screen events for our 60th anniversary episode on December 9th.

"Bill's is a singular, spectacular accomplishment and I heartily congratulate him for his peerless professionalism, unstinting commitment to the show and ongoing brilliance as an actor."

Roache was last seen on-screen as Ken in episodes shown in June but will make a timely return alongside fellow Corrie legend Barbara Knox (Rita Sullivan) in time for the 60th next month.